post study group info, questions, ideas.
Note the following URLs, which point to your TAs’ work:
http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/aaron
http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/elizabeth
http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/cmaraffi
http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/elaine
& look for that survey soon. I’m sending it to your UCSC accounts. Look for it there even if we usually correspond on a not-UCSC acct.
Hi,
Is anyone forming study groups? Definitely interested. Tomorrow would be good, preferably mid day- evening.
Wow, I’m glad I’m the only one who is using this(?!).
For question #7, when you say Jenkins “Convergence Culture”, are you referring to a concept he covered in the “Quentin Tarantino/Star Wars” reading?
Thanks!
Well, Ashley, better you than nobody.
Yes, I am referring to the second Jenkins essay. It’s online, so is searchable. You could search the text for convergence culture to find places where he’s using it and defining it in various ways.
Wasn’t sure which post to comment on!
For question #6, can we use a participatory art project from the second class not listed, such as Tweenbots or Improv Anywhere?
Thank you!
second half* of class
Hi,
For question 8, how are we to format this essay?
@April, Yes! Tweenbots & Improv Anywhere would be great examples. If we saw it in class, it’s fair game as a “project.” Only readings assigned on the syllabus count as “readings.” Pay attention which categories the questions are asking for.
@Priya, Your formatting of the essay is your work as a student. You might watch some Celebrity Death Match episodes to get an idea of how CDM works, you might consider staging a verbal battle set up like a play, ie,
SUCHMAN: something something something
TURING: something something something
Or you might work on that victory speech as the main focus of your essay.
We are allowed to use our book “The new Media Reader” on the exam right?
On Thursday, you mentioned that you would be posting the results of the Survey, i.e the “best” choices to study for. Also, you had mentioned that you and the TA’s had already discounted one(or more) of the questions; although you didn’t say if you were going to be releasing that information.
Knowing the results of either of these things would significantly help both the general studying, and the space use of the index card.
For #3, the TA question, it says we need to discuss two presentations and to “Connect their work with two readings.” Does this mean that we must apply one reading to each presentation= a total of two different readings in the completed essay, or that we need to discuss two readings/presentation which could potentially equate to a discussion of four different readings in the completed essay(unless they could be similar for both presentations, but again, a minimum of at least two different readings in the finished essay)?
I hope this makes sense. I’m not trying to make more work for myself if I don’t have to.
Thanks,
Ashley
@Vidam, This is a closed-book exam, just like the midterm. The function of the notecard is to allow you to jot down key examples/names, etc from your texts and notes.
@Seth, Why yes, it would make your job easier to know which questions we chose, but, you will have to wait and see. I can tell you there will be 4 only, not 4/5 as on midterm.
@Ashley, Great question. I think either configuration you propose would be well-received.
My current coursework summary as a PDF for anyone’s reference. I’ll have posted a completed one by tonight. Enjoy
http://people.ucsc.edu/~tirvine/hw_film20csummary.pdf
For question #4, do you want us to talk about the freedom of movement video games offer, or about the need for gender friendly play spaces in which boys and girls can experience this?
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone who worked with Wikipedia for one of the project or anyone for that matter had any insight on question 7?
@Tim, Thanks!
@Priya, I would start by reading Jenkins & Stallman carefully and defining some terms. What is free software? Is wikipedia free software? Why? What are fan cultures? What’s the difference between corporate and “free” software/culture/licensing? If you didn’t do the wikipedia project, approach it as a user rather than an editor. What’s it like using wikipedia versus something like the encyclopedia brittanica online? http://www.britannica.com/
@sajeev, I want you to talk about both of these things at the same time.
hey,
For #7 do we have to answer all the questions or would focusing on one or two be alright? The question asks to address any OR all so I was just wondering
thanks!
Thanks. Also for the TA projects, can we choose any one of their projects or only the ones presented in class?
Updated (only got so far before I decided to switch, but its mostly complete with relevant keywords, links next to it for faster reference than two .doc’s of notes, syllabus, etc).
http://people.ucsc.edu/~tirvine/hw_film20csummary.pdf
Priya, its messy in here. I’ll post what I wrote in my own study review to the new blog P.Kelley made for us to talk about the final.
NVM. “Comments Closed” on that one.
-Wikipedia.org is run by a non-profit organization that accepts donations: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
-Direct from Wikipedia: “ Most of Wikipedia’s text and many of its images are dual-licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA) and the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL)”(Stallman influence?)
Look at the “Wikipedia page” and its about page for more info.
Critique:
I. Wikipedia is designed to be an “open source” platform, but that concept is ambiguous in itself, which is similar to Stallman’s reluctance in using “free” (free does not mean it does not cost $ for example)
A. Think about what the context of open sourcing means, then compare what happens.
B. Consider that some pages are blocked to user edits. Why?
C. Wikipedia claims one weakness is:“Allowing anyone to edit Wikipedia means that it is more easily vandalized or susceptible to unchecked information, which requires removal.” While this is a valid statement, user abuse does happen, is just anyone being allowed to edit?
D. In line with Stallman’s philosophy of free software is Wikipedia offering power to corporations vs. its users? For example, the Wikipedia community offers a system of checks and balances for its users in terms of supplying and removing information. How can we be sure corporations are also subject to this same system and not providing invalid information?
II. Fan Culture
You could talk about how it provides basic background, plot, and history for topics on pop culture i.e. Star Wars, other movies, Transformers, etc. Check out that page! You may find“Fan Works” is still supported.
III. Corporate Entity vs. free content- you can again talk about media convergence (Jenkins), and how Wikipedia will just become another corporate tool if it were a corporate entity. Think about how $ could play a role. Again, think about what media convergence is and see if you can apply that to another reading (Bagdikian?)
-Stallman talks about the cons of ownership of intellectual material, SO consider that in the context of convergence culture (that could lead you back to fan culture–>see Jenkins).
Consider “public domain” and “fair use” in your discussion possibly.
Help on #6.
What would McVeigh fall in the category on Boal?
McVeigh would go out the street and interview someone, someone will be typing in something and looking at the Skype of them talking through the cellphone and asking questions in real time.
What about “learning to love you more?”
if anyone wants to meetup tomorrow at 11 at oakes cafe to study quickly before the final you are all welcome to come!
@sajeev, let’s go with the work your artist/TAs presented in class. The idea is that we’re all familiar with what happened in class, so we can discuss/grade more easily. (but, as a hint for all you careful comment readers, I wouldn’t agonize over that question TOO much…)
@will, know that there aren’t any “right” answers for that one. Read Boal for resonance and similarity, not precise overlap. Hope that helps.
@everybody, good morning! Note that new posts from folks who have never posted before probably won’t be approved before the final. I have to go slog through the rain.
Wish I could make your meetup at the cafe!
For #6 Waller, Walton, Olson, McVeigh-Shultz, Burroughs, Lambert, were mentioned. Does anybody remember who did what project?
Waller did the myfrenemies site, Walton – What my friends are doing on facebook, Olson was the American Idol auditions blogger, McVeigh-Shultz – voxpop experiments, Burroughs – Mechanical Olympics, and Lambert – whytheyhate.us
Hope that helps!
They’re all on the syllabus from the same week as Boal’s reading.
Angie Waller, My Frenemies”
Lee Walton, “What My Friends Are Doing on Facebook”
Maria Olson, American Idol Audition Training Blog
Joshua McVeigh-Schultz, Synaptic Crowd: Vox Pop Experiments
xtine burroughs, Mechanical Olympics
Steve Lambert, “Why They Hate.US”
Was Halo really discussed in class?
We watched a clip from Red vs. Blue, an online comedy video series that uses in-game models and maps and voice acting to create Halo sketch comedy of sorts.